Northern Conductor Interview

[GooeyLouii]

Hi all,

Just found this forum and its given me a wealth of knowledge, I received an email yesterday informing me I've been invited to attend a structured interview for the position of a conductor at Newcastle on the 13th.

Other than the material I've received from Northern and research I've done so far, is there anything in particular they look for, or that I should focus on in my answering of questions?

Any help/guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[175001]

Browse up on the facts and figures of Northern, i.e Number of staff, stations, trains, cities they serve and connect etc.

Make sure you talk about Safety, Time Keeping and THEN revenue in that order of priorities.

You'll be asked to give examples of when you have had to work under pressure, and when you have given exceptional customer services.

And lastly, smile and eye contact

Good luck with it, Northern really are a good company to work for

 

[GooeyLouii]

Browse up on the facts and figures of Northern, i.e Number of staff, stations, trains, cities they serve and connect etc.

Make sure you talk about Safety, Time Keeping and THEN revenue in that order of priorities.

You'll be asked to give examples of when you have had to work under pressure, and when you have given exceptional customer services.

And lastly, smile and eye contact

Good luck with it, Northern really are a good company to work for

Thanks I was quite surprised I got an interview if I'm honest because I'm only 18, though I have been basiclly working since before school. Just hope that it won't act as an obstacle for me

 

[jadam35]

Thanks I was quite surprised I got an interview if I'm honest because I'm only 18, though I have been basiclly working since before school. Just hope that it won't act as an obstacle for me

Along with safety make sure you emphasise how important customer service is.. I am on a Conductor course at the moment and it is being drilled into us how important customer service is to Northern.. Good luck..

 

[Daniel84]

Along with safety make sure you emphasise how important customer service is.. I am on a Conductor course at the moment and it is being drilled into us how important customer service is to Northern.. Good luck..

That's probably the most annoying part of my interview in my failure to do just that and with coming from a customer service environment I really let myself down there.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated I think I'll be alright with the customer service side, I'm just going to prepare to death over the next few weeks, give me the best possible chance.

 

[Scudz]

I too have been invited to a conductor interview, but for York (interview is on Monday 10th December).

Good luck GooeyLouii!

Any advice that anybody has (other than those above) would be useful. Seems as though at this stage it is purely the interview - I guess assessment etc would be the next stage if they liked me at the interview?

 

[GooeyLouii]

I too have been invited to a conductor interview, but for York (interview is on Monday 10th December).

Good luck GooeyLouii!

Any advice that anybody has (other than those above) would be useful. Seems as though at this stage it is purely the interview - I guess assessment etc would be the next stage if they liked me at the interview?

Thanks Scudz, best of luck to you too!
My thoughts were much the same, so making that first impression is make or break.

 

[bigbad82]

Hi there, interesting thread. I have my interview for Conductor with Northern at Newcastle this week.

Gooey Louii, is your interview showing up in your appointments when your logged in to the Northern careers section? Mine isn't yet although I sent my confirmation of attendance last Thursday night.

Thanks.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Hi there, interesting thread. I have my interview for Conductor with Northern at Newcastle this week.

Gooey Louii, is your interview showing up in your appointments when your logged in to the Northern careers section? Mine isn't yet although I sent my confirmation of attendance last Thursday night.

Thanks.

Hi BigBad82, I've just checked there and no, my appointment hasn't shown up either, I wouldn't worry too much though they may just not have time to update all the systems after the confirmation emails, when is your interview?

Louii

 

[bigbad82]

Hi BigBad82, I've just checked there and no, my appointment hasn't shown up either, I wouldn't worry too much though they may just not have time to update all the systems after the confirmation emails, when is your interview?

Louii

Thanks for checking for me, appreciated.

Interview is wednesday, this is my first interview in almost 13 years. Just want to give a good account of myself and hoping nerves don't get the better of me.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Thanks for checking for me, appreciated.

Interview is wednesday, this is my first interview in almost 13 years. Just want to give a good account of myself and hoping nerves don't get the better of me.

Not a problem.
I'm in pretty much the opposite position, I've had plenty recent interview experience, though not as much life experience. I think the key is composing your thoughts and answers in a succinct and relevant manner.

 

[bigbad82]

Not a problem.
I'm in pretty much the opposite position, I've had plenty recent interview experience, though not as much life experience. I think the key is composing your thoughts and answers in a succinct and relevant manner.

Are we applying for one vacancy or are there several? Or anyone else from experience that might know.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Are we applying for one vacancy or are there several? Or anyone else from experience that might know.

I'm not sure :/.

 

[bigbad82]

Best of luck anyway.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Best of luck anyway.

You too let me know how you get on!

 

[bigbad82]

Well that's me done, couldn't have done any better than what I did. I was well prepared for everything they fired at me. Was in just over an hour and a half, only one vacancy and they seem to be interviewing all this week and next.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Well that's me done, couldn't have done any better than what I did. I was well prepared for everything they fired at me. Was in just over an hour and a half, only one vacancy and they seem to be interviewing all this week and next.

Good luck mate! I've been preparing to death for it like so hopefully it will be enough, what sort of questions were they, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[bigbad82]

Dont mind at all. They asked me stuff like describe a time you helped someone? a time you gave good customer service? A time you made a big decision? They asked about me and what id done in my personal and work career so far in my life. Why i wanted the job, whai thought the job entailed, that sort of thing. Both interviewers are lovely and make you really feel at ease. Hope this helps you.

 

[GooeyLouii]

Yeah thanks alot that's a great help, the sorts of things I'd been prepared for but knowing I was preparing on the right lines has put my mind at ease.
Best of luck to you! Just another week of suspense for me lol.

 

[bigbad82]

Yeah thanks alot that's a great help, the sorts of things I'd been prepared for but knowing I was preparing on the right lines has put my mind at ease.
Best of luck to you! Just another week of suspense for me lol.

yeah no problem, a week of suspense is the killer i'm glad mine is done, still you've got an extra week of prep I suppose.

I wonder how many get through to the assessment day? It's in Doncaster by the way.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

yeah no problem, a week of suspense is the killer i'm glad mine is done, still you've got an extra week of prep I suppose.

I wonder how many get through to the assessment day? It's in Doncaster by the way.

The very best of luck to everyone here that applied.

 

[90047]

Dont mind at all. They asked me stuff like describe a time you helped someone? a time you gave good customer service? A time you made a big decision? They asked about me and what id done in my personal and work career so far in my life. Why i wanted the job, whai thought the job entailed, that sort of thing. Both interviewers are lovely and make you really feel at ease. Hope this helps you.

when they asked what you have done in your personal life and work career so far , what did you say , also is it a good idea not to say your a rail enthusiast .

 

[bigbad82]

when they asked what you have done in your personal life and work career so far , what did you say , also is it a good idea not to say your a rail enthusiast .

I just told them from leaving school I didn't want to go on to do A levels as I didn't know what I wanted to be, so got a job in an office to get experience and one thing led to another and told them the 3 companies I'd work for and explained my transition throughout period upto now. Personal life was just telling them about being married having kids what I get upto in spare time etc.

I've no idea what would be a good or bad thing to say, I personally was just honest and transparent with them and if that's not what they're looking for then I'd be disappointed but happy with that assessment.

 

[90047]

I just told them from leaving school I didn't want to go on to do A levels as I didn't know what I wanted to be, so got a job in an office to get experience and one thing led to another and told them the 3 companies I'd work for and explained my transition throughout period upto now. Personal life was just telling them about being married having kids what I get upto in spare time etc.

I've no idea what would be a good or bad thing to say, I personally was just honest and transparent with them and if that's not what they're looking for then I'd be disappointed but happy with that assessment.

i've no chance then in my spare time bash trains mind you i have learnt a few things how they do there job , also its a good to have a wife and kids as single people have more time on there hands and would be less commited for the role.

 

[GooeyLouii]

i've no chance then in my spare time bash trains mind you i have learnt a few things how they do there job , also its a good to have a wife and kids as single people have more time on there hands and would be less commited for the role.

I think it's all how you word your answers to the job description, I might be more inclined to say a single person would be more committed due to not having any other responsibilities outside of work? (The ability to pick up a shift at the drop of a hat etc).

 

[bigbad82]

I think it's all how you word your answers to the job description, I might be more inclined to say a single person would be more committed due to not having any other responsibilities outside of work? (The ability to pick up a shift at the drop of a hat etc).

lol, good call. but I got that covered too, wife doesn't work so I can pick up a shift at the drop of a hat.

 

[GooeyLouii]

I didn't mean that as a I have more points than you comment lol just more of a general observation, I do wonder how many will go to the assesment stage, it's a shame there aren't more vacancies.

 

[bigbad82]

I didn't mean that as a I have more points than you comment lol just more of a general observation, I do wonder how many will go to the assesment stage, it's a shame there aren't more vacancies.

i know you weren't scoring points, I just thought you made a very valid point and had thought the same after 90047 said that.

i've really no idea how many will go through, I'm not sure if I read somewhere that they eliminate during the assessment day so say 10 become 3 or 4 for eg (i might have just dreamt that or read it about another job/company).

 

[GooeyLouii]

i know you weren't scoring points, I just thought you made a very valid point and had thought the same after 90047 said that.

i've really no idea how many will go through, I'm not sure if I read somewhere that they eliminate during the assessment day so say 10 become 3 or 4 for eg (i might have just dreamt that or read it about another job/company).

No I read that too, but I think I remember reading also that they held the interviews at the end of that assesment day? Did they say when they expect the assesment day to be?